European governments are moving faster to impose costs on Moscow over a suspected sabotage campaign tied to support for Ukraine, but continue to struggle with how to penalise attacks deliberately kept below the threshold of open war.
Key facts
- Russia's suspected sabotage campaign across Europe appears to be gathering pace again.
- An explosives-laden drone was discovered next to a Ukrainian cargo plane at Germany's Leipzig airport.
- Poland has faced suspected acts of sabotage.
- Unexplained explosions and fires have hit defence facilities supplying Ukraine across Europe.
- Governments are now moving faster to impose costs on Moscow, according to the Guardian.
European governments are increasingly calling out Russia in public over what they describe as a ‘hybrid war’, but they continue to grapple with a problem that has persisted since the start of the war in Ukraine: how to impose a meaningful cost on Moscow for attacks that remain deliberately below the threshold of conventional war, according to the Guardian.
The report says Russia’s suspected sabotage campaign across Europe appears to be gathering pace again. The renewed activity confronts governments with a difficult challenge, as the incidents are designed to avoid triggering a conventional military response while still inflicting damage and disruption.
Over the past month alone, the Guardian reports, an explosives-laden drone was discovered next to a Ukrainian cargo plane at Germany’s Leipzig airport. The find highlights concerns about the security of logistics and supply routes linked to Ukraine.
Poland has faced suspected acts of sabotage during the same period, according to the outlet. The country has been a key transit point and supporter for Ukraine since the start of the war.
A string of unexplained explosions and fires have also hit defence facilities supplying Ukraine across Europe, the Guardian reports. Such incidents have added to the sense that a coordinated campaign is under way, even as attribution remains difficult.
In response, governments are now moving faster to impose costs on Moscow for its increasing attacks over its support for Ukraine, according to the Guardian. But the central question remains how Europe can make President Vladimir Putin pay for actions kept just below the line of open conflict.
Why it matters
Sabotage and other 'hybrid' tactics allow Russia to pressure European supporters of Ukraine without provoking a full military response, leaving governments searching for effective deterrents. How Europe answers this challenge could shape the security of critical infrastructure and the broader course of the war.
Frequently asked questions
What recent incidents has Europe linked to Russian sabotage?
According to the Guardian, an explosives-laden drone was found next to a Ukrainian cargo plane at Germany's Leipzig airport, Poland has faced suspected acts of sabotage, and a string of unexplained explosions and fires have hit defence facilities supplying Ukraine across Europe.
Why is it difficult for Europe to respond to these attacks?
The Guardian reports the attacks are deliberately kept below the threshold of conventional war, making it hard for governments to impose a meaningful cost on Moscow without escalating into open conflict.
What are European governments doing about it?
According to the Guardian, governments are now moving faster to impose costs on Moscow for its increasing attacks over their support for Ukraine, though effective solutions remain elusive.